Growth Rate To Increase Pressures

Just over two months ago, Floridians learned they had become the fifth most populous state in the nation, passing Illinois.

Before there was enough time to digest that astonishing piece of news, they learned that by April, Florida will pass Pennsylvania to become No. 4.

In less than two weeks, University of Florida researchers predict, the state`s population will top 12 million, almost doubling since the mid-1960s. By the end of the century, Florida`s 17.4 million people will allow the state to pass New York State to become No. 3, behind only California and Texas.

The good news is that this stream of new Floridians will enrich and nourish the state`s population with education and job skills, ideas and ideals, culture and heritage, attitudes and experiences.

Growth can also bring economic health, new jobs, businesses and business customers and greater political clout.

The bad news is that the parade of 893 newcomers every day is placing severe strains on the state`s ability to pay for and provide many basic services.

Extreme growth pressures are outpacing government capacity to build roads and mass transit systems, house prisoners, provide health and social services, treat sewage, dispose of garbage and protect against pollution.

Floridians must demand that their lawmakers do a better job of channeling and regulating population growth, insisting that growth be permitted only when there are government facilities and services to support it.